A former Google and Apple exec was once offered a chance to become Twitter's CEO — here's why she turned it down

Kim Scott was in "rock
star" mode when she declined to interview for the position of
Twitter CEO.Anthony
Quintano/Flickr

At one point in her career, Kim Scott says she "probably would
have cut off my left arm" for the chance to be CEO of Twitter.

But when a member of Twitter's board approached her in 2008 and
asked if she'd like to interview for the position (she was
working as a manager at Google), she wasn't certain. Ultimately,
she declined.

When you're in rock star mode, you're on a more gradual growth
trajectory and you're all about stability. For whatever reason,
you're happy with the job you have, and you're not necessarily
interested in the next shiny-new role.

When you're in superstar mode, you're on a steeper growth
trajectory. You're constantly seeking out new challenges, and a
promotion or a new opportunity may be exactly what you're looking
for.

Scott says she'd been in superstar mode for much of her career.
But when she was asked about interviewing for the position of
Twitter CEO, she was carrying twins and it was a high-risk
pregnancy.

When she asked her doctor whether it would be advisable to take
on this new challenge, the doctor replied: "What's more important
to you — that job or the hearts and lungs of your children?"

"I realized I did not want a new, challenging opportunity at that
moment," Scott said when she visited the Business Insider office
in March.

"What I wanted at that moment in my career was what I had at
Google — the ability to keep doing a job I knew how to do and
knew how to do really well and to focus on being able to carry
those twins to term." (She did.)

In the book, Scott emphasizes:

"I am not saying that other pregnant women can't be fully
committed CEOs — many have proven it's possible. I'm just saying
I couldn't.

"It wasn't until the twins turned seven that I felt I had the
capacity to get back on a steep growth trajectory and start a
company."

What's more, your reason for being in rock star mode might not be
kids — it might be another personal conflict, or it might simply
be that you're enjoying the work you're doing right now.

Kim
Scott.Screenshot/First Round
Capital

Interestingly, Scott was later asked by then-CEO of Twitter, Dick
Costolo, to help him design a class called "Managing at Twitter."
At that point, she'd already helped design a course called
"Managing at Apple," for Apple employees.

He then asked her if she wanted to interview for an operating
role on his team — but they both soon realized that it wasn't a
fit for her at that time in her life. Instead, she became his
CEO coach.

Scott writes:

"Dick's ability to help identify the perfect role for me at that
time in my life has made an enormous difference in my career.

"It not only allowed me to be on a gradual growth trajectory at
work when I wanted to write and be with my kids, it also set me
up perfectly for when I was ready to shift gears again."

To anyone struggling against pressure to keep climbing upward,
Scott recommends taking stock of your personal and professional
priorities. She told Business Insider: "It's really important to
be gentle with yourself."